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- (No Model.)

- G. E. SHEPARD.

CASE FOR LAWN TENNIS IMPLEMENT S. No. 298,125. Patented May 6, 1884.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFF-ICE.

GEORGE E.. SHEPARD, or JE sEY CITY, NEW JERS Y, ASSIGNOR TO HALL, NICQLL & GRANBERRY, OF NEW YORK, n. Y.

.QASE FOR LAWN-TENNIS IMPLEME NTS,

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 298.125, dated May 6, 1884.

Application filed February 7, 1884. (No model.)

for containing implements used in playing the game of tennis, and has special reference to devices whereby the rackets may be firmly confined or clamped in such position when not in use that twisting of the same out of shape will be prevented, and also so that when two or more racketsare confined in one case they will not rub against each other, and thus become marred.

In the drawings like letters refer to like parts.

Figure 1 is a plan view, looking down into I the box or case, the cover being open. Fig. 2 is a side view, the side of the case and the shoe-eompartment being removed. Fig. 3 is a detached view of the metal pieces G shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

A is the case, made of wood, leather, metal, or other suitable material, and supplied with trimmings usual in such structures. It is of the requisite length, width, and depth to contain the rackets, balls, shoes, and other things needed or desired by a tennis-player.

B is the cover, on the inside of which may be kept, either in a pocket or confined by suitable straps or otherwise, the tennis shirt and trousers.

O C are two compartments adapted, respectively, to hold the balls and shoes.

1) D are the rackets, two being shown in the drawings.

At either side of the box or case, and so placed that they will not interfere with the rackets, are metallic rods E E E E. They are firmly fastened in any suitable manner at their lower ends to the bottomof the case, and stand vertically in it. F and F are two pieces of board, made to conform in general outline to the bow part of the racket, although larger than such part, so as to overlap the bow all around. The one marked F is of suchthick- F is placed on it.

ness that when placed between the rackets they will be separated, as shown in the drawings, so that theirhandles will not touch each other. Both of these boards are of such size that they may be conveniently dropped into place between the rods E E E E, and they are both preferably covered with flannel or other soft material, as is also the bottom of the case and the board I, so that the rackets will not come in contact with any hard substance which might mar theirv polish.

G'G are two stiff pieces of brass or other material, which are provided with recesses at or near their-endainto which the rods E E 6 pass when the pieces G are in use. Holes maybe made in the ends of the pieces G instead of the recesses. In this case they will be slipped over the ends of the rods E, thethumb-screws being removed.

H H are thumb-screws, threaded as usual, the threads in which match into corresponding threads on the upper ends of the rods E E. v I is a piece of board placed in the bottom of the case, so as to give the bow of the lower racket the necessary set olf from the bot tom of the case to compensate for the difl'erence in thickness between the bow of the racket and its handle, so that no strainwill come on the handle.

The operation is as follows: The lowermost racket is put into the box; Then the board Then the second racket is placed in on top of the board F. Then the seeone board, F, is placed in position. Then the pieces of metal Gare slipped under the thumbscrews, and then the thumbscrews are turned down until the boards and the rackets are rigidly clamped together, and held down upon the bottom of the box; and, since the lower racket rests on the flat bottom board, I, and

the boards 1 and F are also fiat, the bows of the rackets are held, as it were, in a vise or clamp, and cannot twist or bend out of shape, as they are apt to do when placed in an ordinary cloth or leather covering, especially if the catgut and the how have become wet prior to being placed in such covering.

I do not limit myself to the precise construe tion of the devices shown, since they may be 100 considerably varied and yet the advantages v of my invention be secured. Nor do I confine myself to the eombination'of two rackets with the other devices shown, since my inventionjs applicable to one racket or more than two. 5 Having described my invention, I claim 1. Theeombination of the case A, the rods E, the boards I, F, and F, the metal pieces G, and the thumb-screws H, substantially as -and for the purposes set forth. x0 .2. The combination of the case A, the rods E, the boards F and. F, the metal pieces G, and the thumb-screws H, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. The combination of the case A, therods E, the board F, the metal pieces G, and the x 5 thumb-screws H, substantially as and for the pn set forth.

'4. The combination of the case A, the rods E, the metal pieces G, and the thnmb-serews flii tslllbstantially as and for the purposes set 20 Signed at New York, in the county of New York, and State of New York, this 6th day of February, A. D. 1884. t

GEO. E. SHEPARD. -Witnesses:

Jorm H. Ivns WALTER H. CRITTENDEN. 

